Madison quarterback Josh Giles (7) runs the ball during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison.(Photo: Sam Caravana / Argus Leader)Buy Photo

MADISON — When its aerial attack struggled to find traction early on against Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan, Madison shifted to its two-back formation and concentrated on wearing down the top-ranked team from 11B.

The shift in approach worked.

Jadon Janke capped off a couple of drives with touchdown runs midway through the second quarter, before Jaxon came through with a nice catch on fourth down to move the Bulldogs inside the 10, then capped off the 9-play, 49-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown reception that made it 19-0 at halftime.

The top-ranked team from 11A cruised from there, continuing to wear down the Seahawks on their way to a 33-6 win.

“They’re physical and they tested us up front,” Madison coach Max Hodgen said. “We’re going to throw the ball up to Jaxon and give him a chance. He’s a special athlete and his brother Jadon runs the ball well for us. We said let’s get in two-back and run some power football at them and see if we could use our numbers to our advantage.”

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Madison wide receiver Jaxon Janke (6) gets tackled by a Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan defender during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan linebacker Jamin Arend (2) reaches for Madison wide receiver Jaxon Janke (6) as he scores a touchdown during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison wide receiver Jaxon Janke (6) makes a catch along the sideline during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison wide receiver Jaxon Janke (6) attempts a one-handed catch over Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan linebacker Jamin Arend (2) during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison running back Jadon Janke (5) and Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan defensive back Abiah Plastow (4) chase after a pass during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan running back Abiah Plastow (4) gets tackled by one foot by Madison linebacker Doyle Brown (10) during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

A Madison player squints into the sun while lined up for the national anthem before the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison tight end Doyle Brown (10) runs through a tunnel of young fans during introductions before the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan offensive lineman Zack Leithieser (78) runs onto the field during introductions before the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison running back Jadon Janke (5) runs the ball past Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan defensive back Cole Gassman (20) during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison offensive lineman Tyler Reck (79) plays the trumpet in the matching band during halftime of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan quarterback Abiah Plastow (4) gets sacked during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison quarterback Josh Giles (7) throws the ball over the arms of Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan defensive back Mason Potter (21) during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan running back Cole Gassman (20) gets tackled by Madison linebacker Doyle Brown (10) during the first half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan running back Jamin Arend (2) runs the ball during the second half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan running back Grant Andrews (30) prepares to be tackled by Madison's Tyler Tappe (1) and Spencer Monroe (40) during the second half of their high school football game on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at Trojan Field in Madison. Sam Caravana / Argus Leader

Madison finished the night with 413 yards of total offense, 244 of which came on the ground (50 carries). On the flip side, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan had 145 yards of total offense, 124 of which came on the ground.

“Like I told the kids, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow and we’re going to get better on Monday,” BEE coach Jeff VanLeur said. “Some of the things they did playing that physical, we hadn’t seen that in a little bit and I think that kind of physical play is something that we’re going to need to work on… It’s hard to do that when you don’t see that all the time. So, it was a good learning experience.”

Here are some news, notes and observations from Friday night’s tilt.

GASSMAN INJURED

It appears that BEE dodged a fairly significant bullet Friday night when standout Cole Gassman had to be helped off the field after going down with a non-contact injury midway through the third quarter.

“Right now they’re talking hyperextended knee,” VanLeur said of Gassman who was up and walking around on the sideline later in the game. “So, we’ll wait and see, put some ice on it here and get things checked out over the weekend. Hopefully things are good.”

The centerpiece of his team’s offense, the senior tailback/defensive back logged 31 carries for 232 yards and four touchdowns against W/WS/SC in Week 2.

“I just hope the best for him,” Madison coach Max Hodgen said. “They’re a good club. They’re not in our class so I can root for them, as opposed to those in our class.”

DEFENSE DELIVERS FOR BEE EARLY ON

The Seahawks’ defense was impressive early on, winning the battle up front and getting heavy pressure on quarterback Josh Giles, who took a few big hits early on.

Their offense was unable to cash in and make a statement, however, which allowed Madison to land the game’s initial blows and start pulling away by halftime.

“We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit early in the game,” VanLeur said. “(We) didn’t get any momentum, then we gave them momentum. They’re a team that’s very explosive.”

A big reason for the team’s defensive success early on?

Jamin Arned’s defense of Jaxon Janke.

“Jamin did a fantastic job,” VanLeur said. “No way can you shut a kid like (Jaxon Janke) down. He’s going to get some catches… but Jamin did a nice job jamming him at the line and running with him. We were just trying to disrupt some of that timing. Those kids have a lot of timing together.”

Janke finished the night with four catches for 77 yards.

“They pressed him hard,” Hodgen said. “We wanted to move him off the ball so he couldn’t get pressed, but to play press coverage against him as well as they did – that’s impressive.”

MADISON DEFENSE

Hodgen said he was concerned with how his team would stack up defensively against the run-heavy, physical Seahawks.

It turns out, they stacked up quite well against them.

The Bulldogs limited BEE to just 124 yards on 35 carries and forced three fumbles.

“We answered a very big question tonight defensively,” Hodgen said. “We played a very physical team that wants to run the ball and we answered it well. The first half, I don’t know if they had a first down. I’m just proud of our effort. We were physical, we met them at the point of attack and we executed very well.”

WHAT’S AHEAD

With its first three games of 2017 now under its belt, Madison will begin installing some new offensive packages.

“You want to do what you do, and you want to do it right before you start installing new things,” Hodgen explained. “I think we’re at a point where we can put some new wrinkles to our offense in.”

The Bulldogs visit Vermillion next weekend, while Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan is at home against Elk Point-Jefferson.